Means and method for treating vaulting poles



March 29, 1966 o. OLSEN 3,242,588

MEANS AND METHOD FOR TREATING VAULTING POLE'S Filed June 12, 1963 2 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR. THOMAS O. OLS EN WMZM ATTORNEY March 29, 1966 Q OLSEN 3,242,588

MEANS AND METHOD FOR TREATING VAULTING POLES Filed June 12, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 92 96 I06 Ill/Ill! F l G. 8

INVENTOR. THOMAS O. OLSEN agah tm ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,242,588 MEANS AND METHOD FOR TREATING VAULTING POLES Thomas 0. Olsen, Salina, Kans., assignor of one-fifth to Kenneth Morrison, Hasting, Nebr., one-fifth to Milton L. Morrison, Salina, Kans., and one-tenth to Gerald R.

Sebree, Salina, Kans.

Filed June 12, 1963, Ser. No. 287,398 4 Claims. (Cl. 34-107) My invention relates to means for storing and treating resinous, fiber-reinforced vaulting poles. A container is provided of a length to accept such poles to protect the same during carriage and storage. Air heating means is provided in the container. Air circulating means moves the heated air in a recirculating path. Higher temperatures are produced at one end of the container than the other whereby the butt ends of such poles may be heated higher than the other ends. The heating of the poles, including differential heating of opposite ends, produces beneficial results, as will be related hereafter.

The invention will be explained in the following order: (1) The foregoing brief introduction. (2) A discussion of the advantages, characteristics, and problems of resinous, fiber-reinforced vaulting poles. (3) A statement of the objectives of the invention. (4) A description of the figures of the drawings. (5) A detailed description of the means of the invention.

Resinous, fiber-reinforced vaulting poles are increasing in popularity as their resilient properties are believed to be superior to the resilient properties of poles made from other materials. Many pole vaulters are achieving higher vaults than previously they had been able to make. One serious deficiency of the resinous poles, however, has been the substantial incidence of breakage. The breakage is expensive and, more importantly, is hazardous to the athlete when the pole breaks during his vault. The discovery has been made that the tendency to break (in the resin and/or its fiber reinforcement) is greatly reduced if the pole is heated above normal atmospheric temperature, and previous to my invention some vaulters heated their poles with blowtorches before use. It is believed, also, that such poles have superior resilient properties it they are heated.

It is desirable that the entire pole be heated within controlled limits and heating should be greater in other than the upper section. Some heating of the upper section is desirable not only to prevent breakage but also to render the friction or other tape (used as a binding at the upper ends of poles for better gripping qualities) somewhat tacky for good hand contact. Excessive heating of the upper section, however, is believed (I) to make the upper portion too flexible, not providing proper support during vaulting, (2) to not give a strong enough snap at the top of the vault, and (3) to make the pole unduly hot to hold. Although the medial and lower pole sections may not be much more susceptible to forces tending to break the pole than the upper section, higher heating in those areas does further reduce the likelihood of breaking of the pole. The increased resiliency in the medial and lower pole sections due to the higher heating is believed to be beneficial in achieving greater vaulting heights.

Both in heated and unheated conditions, the vaulting poles are quite susceptible to damage. For example, usually a helper is provided during vaulting to catch the pole after the vaulter releases the same to prevent it falling to the ground. Any other dropping of the pole, stepping on the same, etc., may cause damage, so minirnizing possible exposure of the pole is important. The poles preferably should be stored in a manner equivalent to planar support.

The objectives of my invention include:

(1) To provide means to minimize breakage problems with resinous, fiber-reinforced vaulting poles, by treating the same before use, and to provide storage means with desirable characteristics for the poles when not in use.

(2) To provide means to impart desirable resilient and other properties in such poles by treating the same to controlled elevated temperatures, including the pro vision of means to produce differential temperatures in lower, medial and upper .pole portions.

(3) To provide other desirable features, including heated air recirculation, supporting a container for easy insertion of poles therein, facilitating transportation of such container, and economy of construction.

Additional objectives and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description, read with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a specific embodiment of my invention, in which is demonstrated the support of the pole-receiving container on the ground and a pole being inserted therein.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged View, on line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the cylindrical container, taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view, partly in section, taken on line 44 of FIGURE 3, of the righthand portion of the container as viewed in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a view like that of FIGURE 4 except at the left-hand portion of the container.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the portion of the container housing a thermostatic switch.

FIGURE 7 is a view showing modification of the lefthand end of the container consisting of an extension, so that poles of greater length can be housed.

FIGURE 8 is a diagram of the electrical circuitry.

Resinous, fiber-reinforced vaulting poles are well known in the market and available from various sources, so they will not be described in detail. The resinous poles known to me have the problems with breakage described above. Experience indicates the resins or the fibers used improve in those properties involved with breakage at elevated temperatures, particularly on the higher side of the range -150 degrees F. If 72 degrees F. is considered normal atmospheric temperature (and is thus defined for the purposes of the claims), it will be understood that poles are used on days even greatly subnormal. On days in which ambient temperatures are above normal, the temperatures usually are on the lower side of the above range. Apparently some or all of the same properties involved with the problem of breakage are also concerned in the characteristic I have described above as resiliency, which is believed to increase at such elevated temperatures and to improve the characteristics of poles. For the purposes of describing the present invention, it is not believed important to precisely define the resin or fiber properties of materials involved, whether they concern resiliency, brittleness, modulus of elasticity, tensile, shear or compressive strength, etc.

The resinous poles have hollow centers which may be important in holding heat for the period of five minutes or so from the time they are taken out of the heated container of my invention, until they are replaced. As above indicated, the container not only is valuable for treating the poles to elevated temperatures, but also is valuable for protecting the poles against damage, for storing them flat with good support, and for providing protected, convenient transportation. An additional characteristic of the poles mentioned above is the use of friction tape or the like as a binding at partly in section, taken their upper ends. At the temperatures involved in the present treatment, the tape becomes tacky, which is a valuable characteristic in gripping the pole during use.

The range of temperatures (thermostatically controlled in my apparatus) has been selected as preferably 100 to 150 degrees F. The upper limit of 150 degrees F. has been defined because some resinous poles are specified not to be stored above that temperature and because good resilient properties have been experienced below that temperature. However, the desirable upper limit may be changed as manufacturers adopt different resins and fibers, whereby the maximum temperature to prevent deterioration is changed or the temperature some vaulters may decide obtaining the best resilient properties may change. With present resinous poles, I have found a minimum of 100 degrees F. desirable to prevent breakage but, again, this may change with the introduction of poles made from different resins. The experience of vaulters thus far indicates that the upper side of the range is better, both to prevent breakage and for desirable resilient properties, but some vaulters may differ in the future.

Structure Turning to the disclosure in the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a portable container supported by leg means 12, 14 in position convenient for the insertion or removal of a resinous vaulting pole 16, as illustrated. The position of the poles in the container is indicated as 18, which may be taken as illustrating a second pole, as the container may be used to store a number of poles. The container may be adapted for 15' poles, in which case the overall length of the container may be over 16'.

Leg means 12, 14 are identical with the exception that the former has a pair of tubular sockets 20 which removably receive legs 22, whereby container 10 may be positioned inclined to the horizontal, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, during use by the vaulter, not only as a convenience but also to minimize the chances of injury to poles during insertion and removal.

The leg means may be formed from bar stock bent into an upper saddle abutted and secured (as by rivets) to container 10 portion 24, and into wing leg portions 26 forming rests. Braces 29 are provided extending between the legs and the container and secured by suitable means 28. Upstanding handles 30 secured to saddle portions 24 may be used for carrying or for securing hold-down straps or the like when container 10 is transported, such as directly on top of an automobile or on a car-top carrier. If one set of wing legs 26 is positioned to contact the automobile top or carrier, this will prevent the container from turning, adding stability. The leg means may be too widely spaced for both to make contact with the car top.

Container 10 is formed by an outer tube 36 and a spaced, concentric inner tube 38, providing a return air passageway 40 therebetween, communicating with the inside of tube 38 by openings 42 and 44 on the right and left hand ends respectively of the container as viewed. The tubes and most if not all of the container parts are preferably formed from aluminum. Outer and inner tubes 36, 38 can be conveniently 8 and 6" respectively. The tubes are held in spaced position by rings 46, 48 of Z-shaped section and are secured thereto by appropriate means. A closure 50 is provided for the left hand end of the container, hingedly connected to the container at 52, having a spring-clip latch at 54, and having a knob at 56.

For convenience of manufacture, inner tube 38 is divided into a principal portion and an end portion 60, secured together by a lapping section 62, which may be fastened to the two portions by any convenient means. A pole abutment in inner tube 38 adjacent end portion 60 is provided by a circular plate 64 supported by cross-disposed straps 66, secured as by welding.

If the container is manufactured in a length for 15' poles and it is desired to adapt the same for 16' poles, FIGURE 7 shows an adaptation for this purpose in which a tube extension 70 is secured in the left hand end of the container and closure 50 is provided on extension 70 with suitable modification of hinge and latch.

System FIGURES 4, 6 and 8 show the air heating and circulation means, which include fan 74 and heater 76 within end inner tube portion 60. Fan 74 has a vacuum type blading, as drawing of air has proven to provide better circulation with less power than a direct forced air type. Fan motor 78 is secured to a flanged circular plate 79 which has an opening 80 for the fan shaft 82 and air openings 84. Heater 76 is enclosed in a cone frustum 86 for better air heating and circulating action and the cone preferably is made of stainless steel instead of aluminum, for better heat reflective qualities. The heater is formed of Nichrome wire wrapped to a length providing sufiicient heating about a porcelain cone (about 215 watts, for example). The porcelain cone is received within a procelain receptacle 87 supported within cone 86 by suitable means.

A bimetallic thermostatic switch 88 is provided in the upper side of container 60 and near the right hand side as viewed, whereby the maximum temperatures at the butt ends of poles stored (butt end first) therein are approximately measured and controlled. A knob control 90, with suitable indicia of temperature settings, is exposed on the outside of container 10, for manual selection of maximum temperatures.

The electrical circuit is indicated in FIGURE 8 in which the receptacle 92 accepts 110 V. AC. power from a plug 94 of a source of electrical power at the field or a portable gas-powered alternator. A toggle switch 96 controls both fan and heater. Power to the unit generally and operation of the fan is indicated by a green light 98 in the line to motor 78. Energizing of the heater 76, controlled by the adjustable thermostat 88, is indicated by the red light 100 in series therewith. The third lead 102 to the unit, is grounded at 104 to container 10. A fuse 106 is interposed in the circuit.

Toggle switch 96, lights 98, 100, fuse 106, and receptacle 92 are mounted in an end plate 110 at the right hand end of the housing. A H.P., 3,000 r.p.m. fractional horsepower motor requiring about .65 amps and sufiicient Nichrome resistance wire to pull about 215 watts, for a total of about 300 watts, have been used to produce sufficient heating and air circulation. These means are preferred over heating air with other than electrical energy, not recirculating air, or using natural circulation, as these systems do not as accurately control maximum or differential temperatures, are less convenient or even (if gas powered) dangerous because of vulnerability of a portable unit on a field not closely attended, are less economical of construction or operation, etc. The container 10 and the equipment therein described have proven most satisfactory by being capable of economical production, by being of relatively low weight (about 50# in one model), by suitably controlling maximum and differential temperatures (in one model with the thermostat set in an upper value, the diiierential temperatures between ends of the pole were about 25 degrees F.; twenty to thirty degrees is a good separation and preferred, i.e., 150 degrees at the butt end and degrees at the upper end of the pole), and because of other factors, some indicated herein, including, it is believed, a good appearance.

The method of operation of the equipment has been explicitly or implicitly described above. More specifically, a stream of heated air (from fan 74 and heater 76) is exhausted and directed toward and proximate to the butt end of the pole in an environment permitting significant loss of temperatures in the airstream progress along the pole, whereby differential but super-atmospheric temperatures are produced. When the air is exhausted from the confined area (inside inner tube 38), it is preferably brought back (through interspace 40) for reheating, thereby avoiding heat loss and permitting vacuum type inducement of air movement.

The nature, details and operation of my invention, and objectives and advantages thereof, will be understood from the above description. I do not wish to be limited to the specific details shown and described, but instead wish to cover those modifications of my invention which will readily occur to those skilled in the field from knowledge of my invention, which modifications are encompassed within the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for storing and treating a resinous, fiberreinforced vaulting pole comprising concentrically spaced inner and outer tubes,

said inner tube having wall openings adjacent its front and rear ends,

support means at the front and rear ends of said outer tube for supporting said tubes in a substantially horizontal position with the front ends being slightly elevated with respect to said rear ends,

a removable first closure member for the front end of said outer tube to facilitate insertion and removal of vaulting poles to be stored and treated,

an abutment member near the rear end of said inner tube,

said abutment member being of such shape as to close the rear end of said inner tube to the passage of vaulting poles while permitting free circulation of air,

heater means mounted adjacent the rear end of said inner tube,

fan means mounted adjacent said heater means,

a second closure member at the rear end of said inner and outer tubes,

means to control said fan means and said heater means,

such control including a thermostat for maintaining a predetermined range of heating within said tubes,

whereby heated air may be forced to recirculate in a closed path along the interior of said inner tubes and then along the space separating the inner and outer tubes to provide distribution of heated air along the length of the stored vaulting poles.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the thermostat maintains a temperature between and F.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a pair of sockets for receiving removable legs.

4. The combination according to claim 1 including a tubular extension fitting onto the front ends of said tubes for accommodating vaulting poles of extra length,

said removable first closure member being attached to said tubular extension.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,159,078 11/1915 Overpack 248153 1,564,917 12/1925 White 34107 1,944,449 4/1931 Munro 34219 2,205,064 9/1938 Irwin 248 2,600,044 6/1952 Ayres et al. 219-369 WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner. B. L. ADAMS, Assistant Examiner, 

1. MEANS FOR STORING AND TREATING A RESINOUS, FIBERREINFORCING VAULTING POLE COMPRISING CONCENTRICALLY SPACED INNER AND OUTER TUBES, SAID INNER TUBE HAVING WALL OPENINGS ADJACENT ITS FRONT AND REAR ENDS, SUPPORTED MEANS AT THE FRONT AND REAR ENDS OF SAID OUTER TUBE FOR SUPPORTING SAID TUBES IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION WITH THE FRONT ENDS BEING SLIGHTY ELEVATED WITH RESPECT TO SAID REAR ENDS, A REMOVABLE FIRST CLOSURE MEMBER FOR THE FRONT END OF SAID OUTER TUBE TO FACILITATE INSERTION AND REMOVAL OF VAULTING POLES TO BE STORED AND TREATED, AN ABUTMENT MEMBER NEAR THE REAR END OF SAID INNER TUBE, SAID ABUTMENT MEMBER BEING OF SUCH SHAPE AS TO CLOSE THE REAR END OF SAID INNER TUBE TO THE PASSAGE OF VAULTING POLES WHILE PERMITTING FREE CIRCULATION OF AIR, HEATER MEANS MOUNTED ADJACENT THE REAR END OF SAID INNER TUBE, FAN MEANS MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID HEATER MEANS, A SECOND CLOSURE MEMBER AT THE REAR END OF SAID INNER AND OUTER TUBES, MEANS TO CONTROL SAID FAN MEANS AND SAID HEATER MEANS, SUCH CONTROL INCLUDING A THERMOSTAT FOR MAINTAINING A PREDETERMINED RANGE OF HEATING WITHIN SAID TUBES, WHEREBY HEATED AIR MAY BE FORCED TO RECIRCULATE IN A CLOSED PATH ALONG THE INTERIOR OF SAID INNER TUBES AND THEN ALONG THE SPACE SEPARATING THE INNER ADN OUTER TUBES TO PROVIDE DISTRIBUTION OF HEATED AIR ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE STORED VAULTING POLES. 